Effect of Monovalent Cations on the HOR/HER Activity for Pt in Alkaline Environment. Issue 2 (10th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, D. J.; Janssen, M.; Oezaslan, M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 166:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: F66
• Page End: F73
• Publication Date: 2019-01-10
• Subjects: Fuel Cells - PEM -- effect of cations -- electrocatalysis -- hydrogen oxidation/evolution reaction; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0301902jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : The sluggish kinetics of hydrogen oxidation/evolution reaction (HOR/HER) is one of the major barriers for the breakthrough of alkaline membrane fuel cells. In particular, the effects of different cations on the HOR/HER kinetics are poorly understood to date. In this work, the catalytic HOR/HER activity on polycrystalline platinum (poly-Pt) and high surface area carbon-supported platinum nanoparticles (HSAC-Pt) in various alkaline 0.1 M electrolyte solutions (MOH, M = Li +, Na + and K + ) at different temperatures was studied using rotating disc electrode (RDE) technique. Our results show the increase of the HOR/HER activity for Pt in the order of K + < Na + < Li + . The improved kinetics are attributed to the water arrangement controlled by the monovalent cations resulting in non-covalent interactions of the hydrated cations and the adsorbed hydrogen. We assume that these non-covalent interactions cause the superior HOR/HER activity on the Pt surface in presence of LiOH.